Radioelectric asymmetric conveyer for therapeutic use

ABSTRACT

A radio-electric conveyer includes one or more radiofrequency generators supplied by a power group; one or more irradiating antennas coupled with the generator and which are able to create a radiofrequency field; a variable modulator; and one or more electrodes connected to generator and able to be applied to one or more predetermined parts of a body object of the therapy treatment, placed inside the field, in order to convey radiofrequency currents to the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to the field of therapeutic Techniques and PhysicsMedicine and more particularly it refers to a device generatinglocalised currents in the human body for therapeutic use.

STATE OF THE ART

As it is known the use of Electromagnetic field is a common practice inmedical applications to both diagnostic and therapeutic aims.

In particular passive techniques are at the moment known which consistin the measuring of electric signals generated inside the human body(for example Electroencephalogram, Myography) and active techniques (forexample microwave hyperthermia treatments, etc.).

On the other hand, the electromedical apparatus for electric stimulationare in general devices intended to induce currents circulating throughthe human body by the application of at least two electrodes whichdefine the adduction points (Inlet/outlet) of the current flow to/fromthe body.

In the already known apparatus the electrodes are supplied by a currentgenerator which can have a different nature depending on the specificapplication (for example perineal/muscular/antalgic FunctionalElectrostimulation etc.) and can be defined “symmetric” in respect tothe electrodes position.

AIM OF THE INVENTION

A first aim is to obtain current distributions different from thosewhich can be obtained using the traditional symmetric schemes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This aim has been reached according to the invention by a radioelectricconveyer which is substantially constituted by a radiofrequencygenerator, a system of irradiating antennas (typically a single antenna)and by a group of electrodes to be placed on contact with any part,internal or external, of the body.

The conveyer makes use of a original connection in which the body of apatient is no more placed as a subject irradiated by the EM radiationbut it is a part of the system of transmitting antennas where it isconnected to the ground base antenna instead of to the emitting side ofthe system.

The system EM generator/Patient-living tissue is intended to be made insuch a way that it is completely insulated from ground and from anyconducting body or mass, in particular from metal mass.

The device of the invention has the function of generating weakradiofrequency currents which are conveyed and collect at theapplication points of the electrodes.

The electrodes can be applied to any point, group of points, zone ororganic tissue of the body either externally or inside the same body,where the currents have to be conveyed.

The antennas are placed at a certain distance form the patient body, sothat the same body is diffusely exposed to the Electromagnetic fieldsirradiated by the antennas.

Therefore, by the described device it is carried out anelectrostimulation obtained by electrodes and antennas which formradiofrequency circuits determining the passage of weak currents towardsthe application points of the electrodes, at which points the samecurrents are collecting.

Substantially the currents are generated by the combined use of galvaniccontact electrodes (as it happens in the traditional electrostimulationtreatments) or capacitive contact electrodes and of antennas irradiatingelectromagnetic fields, according to a scheme which can be for thatreason called “asymmetric”.

In fact, unlike the traditional electrostimulation systems which arebased uniquely on electrodes (symmetric scheme), the present devicemakes possible to generate currents which are concentrated at theapplication points of the electrodes but they flow being extremelydiffused through the whole body subject to the electromagneticradiation.

A first advantage is that by the device of the invention it is possibleto convey weak currents to well localised points of a human or animalbody by the simultaneous and combined use of electrodes and irradiatingantennas.

A second advantage is that the radiation emitted by the antennasdetermines an extremely diffused exposition through the body, so that itis caused a circulation of currents conveyed and concentrated by theelectrodes applied to the body.

A further advantage in respect to the prior art systems is the higherflexibility of the present apparatus which by changing the applicationpoints, the shape, and the number of the electrodes, makes it possibleto have substantially any distribution of the current circulation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and still further advantages will be better understood by a manskilled in the art from the following description and the annexeddrawings, given as a non limiting example, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 respectively show the scheme of two possible embodiments of aradiofrequency conveyer according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The conveyer substantially comprises:

-   a power assembly (a);-   one or more radiofrequency generator 1;-   one or more irradiating antennas 2;-   a variable modulator 3;-   one or more electrodes 4 to be applied or associated to selected    parts of the body (p) subject to the therapy. The electrodes are    connected through cables (cv) to the generator 1.

A substantial feature is that the system (s) as a whole, constituted by:supply assembly (a)/generator 1/coupler/modulator 3/antennas2/electrodes 4/body (p) and operator, is constantly kept insulated fromthe ground and from any other connection to earth.

The generator is coupled to the electrostimulation circuit constitutedby the antennas and by the electrodes; an end of the coupler isconnected to antenna 2, the other one is connected to the electrodes 4.A modulation system permit the operator to suitably modulate by commandthe generator and the probe coupling. In the functioning, theradiofrequency field (c) generated by the generator 1 and irradiated bythe system of antennas 2 pervades the environment obtaining a verydiffused irradiation on and inside the body (p) (e.g the patient).

The electrodes 4 applied to the body determine a conveyed circulation ofradiofrequency microcurrents concentrated in the application regions.

Patient (p) will be therefore subject to a flow of radiofrequencycurrents having frequency, time, modulation, and circulation as decidedby the operator according to the specific medical protocol defined bythe therapy.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, two possible schemes of the apparatusaccording to the invention are illustrated. The embodiments are madedifferent by the type of radiofrequency generator and they comprise theradiofrequency generator apparatus with the coupling to the emittingcircuit and to the electrodes system to conveying the radiofrequencycurrents in the body subject to the therapy.

The radiofrequency circuit comprises the system of antennas, the bodyplaced inside the radiofrequency field generated by the generator andemitted by the same antennas, and the focusing of radiofrequencycurrents at the contact point of the electrodes with the body to delimitand to convey the dispersion of the radiofrequency currents.

It is evident that the above are principle schemes and that they referto specific radiofrequency circuits, while they do not limit thetechnologic embodiments which can be possible for each the components(generator/s, couplers, antenna circuits, conductive elements, etc.).

It is also evident that the radioelectric several generators can beprovided and operating at different frequencies, like the antennas orthe low frequencies irradiating panels, electrostatic system comprised.

Preferably, modulators and flow switches can be provided on both thegenerator and the antenna circuit.

Several electrodes can be provided, of different shapes and size andmade of different conductive, semi-conductive, insulating or mixedmaterials. The electrodes can be applied on single or multiple points orthey can be applied for capacitive effect, being not placed to directcontact with the body of the patient.

In particular, according to the invention the electrodes 4 can have theshape of metal sheets preferably aluminium, which can be applied to wideregions of the patient's body.

In a preferred embodiment, given as a non limiting example, a conveyeraccording to the invention present the following characteristics:

Emitting Group of Irradiating Energy

-   Buncher resonator: GUNN effect diode Resonator-   Angles of the emitting lobe: Horizontal 85°-Vertical 50°-   Frequency band X—resonance frequency 10,525 GHz-Maximum emission    power <10 mW-   Components on printed circuits—SMT technology-   Work voltage 5 Vcc.    Receiving/Detector Group-   Receiving circuit—planar type-   Detector: SCKOTTY Diode-   Detector circuit: Mixer circuit-   Value of the signal level to/from the detector: 40 mV min thermal    working range +5° to +40°-   Dimensions of the Receiving/Transmitting Group 48 L×40h×12W mm.    Irradiating Energy—Emission Lobe

The electromagnetic low power energy in band X is irradiated in aellipsoidal lobe having angles of: 50° Vertical, 85° Horizontal.

In respect to noise, back echo caused by objects having a typicalabsorption, reflection frequency in the X band of the human tissues anda surface of approximately 0.5 m², effects can be appreciated by thedetector thanks to the Doppler effect/Mixer circuit in the receivingsystem at the distance of 12 meters. Without considering the averagetypical reflection coefficients, the absorption of the constitutingmaterials and taking not into account specific particulars possiblypresents and which could make the filed less uniform, the averageradiating electromagnetic energy produced by the Gunn cavity oscillatorand distributed in the closed space of a 4 m×4 m×3 m room, typically amasonry room, can be valued in approximately 20×10⁻¹¹ W/cm³.

In the use, a suitably programmed processing unit provides to determinethe emitting steps of the electromagnetic energy in the room, accordingto the settings previously chosen by the operator.

For Example:

Manual Control by Probe:

-   Minimum emitting time: 10 ms-   Maximum emitting time: 10 sec-   Possible cyclic emission (discharge) by continuous command of the    steps: predetermined time—pre-emission interval—predetermined time    Keyboard Settings-   Minimum emitting time: 10 ms-   Maximum emitting time: 10 sec-   Minimum time interval: 10 ms-   Maximum time interval: 10 sec-   Maximum number of intervals: 99-   Sequence possibly interrupted by keyboard.

The present invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment but it is obvious that equivalent modifications can be madeby a man skilled in the art without outgoing from the scope of thepresent invention.

1. A radio-electric conveyer for the radio-electric electrostimulation of a body (p) of a patient, the radio-electric conveyer comprising: at least one radiofrequency generator (1) powered by a power system (a), said radio frequency generator (1) having an emission power lower than 10 mW; at least one irradiating antenna (2) coupled to the at least one radiofrequency generator (1) and which is able to create a radiofrequency field (c), thereby generating a diffused irradiation towards the body (p) of the patient to be treated by therapy and placed inside the radiofrequency field (c), with the at least one irradiating antenna (2) being remotely located with respect to the body (p) and transmitting the diffused irradiation intended to radiate the whole of the body (p) of the patient; a variable modulator (3); and at least one electrode (4) connected to the at least one generator (1) and which is applied to at least one predetermined part of the body (p) of the patient to be treated by therapy and placed inside the radiofrequency field (c), in order to convey radiofrequency currents generated by the radiofrequency field (c) in the body (p), the radiofrequency field (c) conveying significantly highly diffused radiofrequency currents in the body (p); wherein each of the at least one electrode (4) are connected to said generator (1) which are applied to one or more predetermined parts of said body (p), whereby each of the at least one electrode (4) conveys radiofrequency currents generated by said radiofrequency field (c) in the body (p) with the radiofrequency currents being returned by the at least one electrode (4) to the at least one radiofrequency generator.
 2. The conveyer according to claim 1, wherein said radiofrequency generator (1) emitted volume power density around said body (p) is approximately 20×10⁻¹¹ W/cm³.
 3. The conveyer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is in the shape of a sheet.
 4. The conveyer according to claim 3, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is made of a conductive material.
 5. The conveyer according to claim 4, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is made of aluminum.
 6. The conveyer according to claim 3, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is made of a non-conductive material.
 7. The conveyer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is applied for galvanic contact to the body (p).
 8. The conveyer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is applied for capacitive contact to the body (p).
 9. The at least one electrode (4) for a conveyer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode (4) has the shape of a sheet.
 10. The at least one electrode (4) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is made of a conductive material.
 11. The at least one electrode (4) according to claim 10, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is made of aluminum.
 12. The at least one electrode (4) according to claim 8, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is made of a non-conductive material.
 13. The at least one electrode (4) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is applied for galvanic contact to the body (p).
 14. The at least one electrode (4) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is applied for capacitive contact to the body (p).
 15. A method for the radio-electric electrostimulation of a body (p) of a patient, the method comprising the following steps: generating a radiofrequency field (c) diffused through the body (p) of the patient to be treated by therapy and placed inside the radiofrequency field (c) using a radiofrequency generator (1) having an emission power lower than 10 mW, thereby generating a diffused irradiation toward the body (p) of the patient; positioning at least one irradiating antenna (2) remotely located with respect to the body (p); arranging the body (p) inside the radiofrequency field (c) to generate radiofrequency currents therein; transmitting the diffused irradiation from the remotely located at least one irradiating antenna (2) with the intention to radiate the whole of the body (p) of the patient; and applying to at least one predetermined part of the body (p) at least one electrode (4) connected to the radiofrequency generator (1), in order to convey the generated radiofrequency currents to the at least one predetermined part of the body (p), the radiofrequency field (c) conveying significantly highly diffused radiofrequency currents in the body (p); and returning, using the at least one electrode (4), the radiofrequency currents from the body (p) to the radiofrequency generator (1).
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is applied for galvanic contact to the body (p).
 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one electrode (4) is applied for capacitive contact to the body (p).
 18. The radio-electric conveyer according to claim 1, wherein an emission power of the radiofrequency generator (1) is less than about 10 mW.
 19. The method according to claim 15, wherein an emission power of the radiofrequency generator (1) is less than about 10 mW.
 20. Radio-electric conveyer for the radio-electric electrostimulation of a body (p) of a patient, the radio-electric conveyer comprising: one or more radiofrequency generators (1) powered by a power system (a), wherein each respective emission power of the one or more radiofrequency generators (1) is lower than 10 mW; one or more irradiating antennas (2) coupled to the one or more radiofrequency generators (1) and which are able to create a radiofrequency field (c), thereby generating a diffused irradiation towards the body (p) of the patient to be treated by therapy and placed inside the radiofrequency field (c) with the at least one irradiating antenna (2) being remotely located with respect to the body (p) and transmitting the diffused irradiation intended to radiate the whole of the body (p) of the patient; a variable modulator (3); and one or more electrodes (4) connected to the one or more radiofrequency generators (1) and which are applied to or associated with one or more predetermined parts of the body (p) to be treated by therapy and placed inside the radiofrequency field (c), the radiofrequency field (c) conveying extremely diffused radiofrequency currents in the body (p) and whereby said one or more electrodes conveys said radiofrequency currents to be returned to said one or more radiofrequency generators.
 21. The conveyer according to claim 1, wherein said radio-electric conveyor is insulated from the earth. 